Multi-compartment handbag



Sept. 9, 1958 c.- s-rAKoFsKY 2,851,076

v WLM-COMPARTMENT HANDBAG Filed July 2s, 195eA :s sheets-sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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SePf- 9, 1958 c. s'rAKoFsKY 2,851,076

' MULTI-COMPARTMENT HANDBAG Filed July 2s, 195e 3 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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n MULTI-COMPARTMENT HANDBAG Filed July 23, 195e Y 3 sheets-sheet s IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent Patented Sept. 9, 1958 hice This -invention relates to ladies handbags and, more particularly, to handbags having a plurality of compartments of the type disclosed in my previously filed ap plication, now U. S. Patent No. 2,730,152, dated Ianuary 10, 1956.

Inasmuch as it is customary for women to carry various sizes of diverse articles in a handbag, it has been found convenient to provide as many various sizes of compartments as possible in the handbag, so as to facilitate access to the various items. Accordingly, I have provided, in my previously filed application, a.handbag having a cover in which an auxiliary compartment is provided to which access may be had through a hinged cover portion at the exterior thereof. In that arrangement, .a pair of hinged rectangular frames having cover material secured thereto defined the auxiliary compartment. It has been found, however, that a satisfactory compartment can be provided in an even more simplilied manner. An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a multi-compartment handbag having an `auxiliary compartment `disposed within the `cover portion of the handbag, which compartment is simple -in construction, attractive in appearance, and which may be incorporated in a handbag of the type described at a nom- :inal cost during the manufacture thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary compartment for ladies handbags that is simple in construction and which may be applied to various types and styles of handbags without changing the construction thereof.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and `advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of the handbag made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l showing the iary compartment in van open position;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the auxiliary compartment applied to a handbag of different design;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of certain parts of the .auxiliary compartment shown in connection with the handbag of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank used in connection auxilwith the manufacture of the handbag shown iin Figure 3. v

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, a handbag made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include .a main compartment 10 having a cover 12 pivotally secured thereto by means of a hinge'13 at one side thereof and maintained in a releasably closed position by means of `a clasp at the other side thereof. A strap 16 or other suitable carrying means is secured to the handbag, as shown. As more clearly shown in Figure 5, the cover 12 includes an outer cover 18 having Z an inner lining 19 secured thereto, and in which is disposed a centrally arranged auxiliary compartment 20.

The auxiliary compartment 20 includes an upper frame 22 and a lower frame-23 pivotally connected toeach other by means of a longitudinal hinge 24 disposed along one edge thereof, and having a snap latch 25 disposed alongy an Iopposite edge thereof, each of the frame members is rectangular in shape, but is provided with only three sides; namely, a longitudinal side and two .perpendicularly related transverse sides at each end thereof. The adjacent ends of each of the transverse sides has the hinge element 24 in pivotal engagement therewith, as more clearly shown in Figure 2. The inwardly facing surfaces of each of the frames are finished so as to present an attractive exposed appearance, whereas the Iouter surfaces thereof are provided with a securing flange 26, 27,

that is `adapted to secure adjacent tab portions of covering material therein. As is more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer portion of the auxiliary compartment .includes an outer fabric 31 and an inner lining fabric 32, the outer fabric being provided with a short tongue extension 33, the innerfab'ric being provided with a longer tongue'extension 34. With the tabs 29, 30, of the outer and inner .coverings respectively secured to the ilange elements of the upper frame 22, in the manner shown in Figure 5, the flanges of the lower frame 23 are adapted to secure the bottom defining tabs 43, 44, of the outer and inner compartment base materials 35, 36, respectively. These base materials `are also provided with side extension tabs 39, 40, which are adapted to form vertical side walls of the compartment, as shown in Figure 5, when the securing tabs are properly engaged by the securing flanges of the frames. When properly assembled, the tongues 33, 34, yof the auxiliary compartment cover extend into engagement with the inwardly disposed compartment base portions so as to provide a closure mea-ns for the compartment between the hinged extremities of each pair of transverse frame members, thereby `avoiding the necessity of a second longitudnial frame element for each of the upper and lower frames 22, 23. Flexible gussets 46, 47, are disposed between the .opposed end surfaces of each of the cover and base portions of the auxiliary compartment, between which gussets a longitudinally extending purse 50 is secured and has a slidable fastener closure 51 at its youtermost extremity. A mirror 52 is cemented or otherwise secured to the inner lining 32 of the auxiliary compartment cover, as more clearly shown in Figure 2.

While the auxiliary compartment described has been shown in connection with a straight sided box-type of handbag, in Figures 1, 2, and 5, such may also be applied to the irregular yor flexible sided type of handbag shown in Figure 3, in a similar manner. This type of purse 55 may be constructed from a substantially single blank 54, as shown in Figure 6, which has a centrally disposed opening 57 in one side 58 thereof, the opposite side 59 thereof being maintained in spaced relationship therewith by an intermediate base portion 60. In this embodiment, the lower ilange 27 of the lower frame 23 is secured tothe opening defining portions of the one side 58 of the blank, whereas the flexible covering material is applied to the remaining portions of the auxiliary compartment framing structure, in the manner hereinbefore described.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown i-n the drawing, such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus ydescri'bed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A multi-compartment handbag having a main compartment and a pivoted cover therefor, an auxiliary compartment disposed wit-hin said cover comprising a pair of three-sided frames hingedly connected to each other to define a rectangular opening, each of said frames comprising a finished inwardly facing surface and an outwardly ydisposed surfacehaving a securing` fiange carried thereby, one of said frames being secured to opening defining portions of said pivotedY cover, the other of said frames having a flexible covering material secured to the outer surface thereof, said fiexible covering material comprising a tab extending around said hinged connection of said frames and into direct securing engagement with said pivoted cover so as to seal said rectangular opening ldefined by said pair of frames.

2. A multi-compartment handbag as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible covering material comprises a rectangular sheet having a centrally disposed portion of substantially the same configuration as said one frame, securing tabs extending outwardly from three sides of said centrally disposed portion for securing engagement i.

with said securing flanges carried by said one frame, a securing tab extending from a fourth side of .said rectangular sheet and extending around said hinged connection of said frames defining a compartment therewith and extending into securing engagement with said opening defining portions of said pivoted cover.

3. A multi-compartment handbag having a main compartment comprising a centrally opening symmetrically hinged main compartment enclosed by a flexible covering material, portions of said covering material defining an opening at one side of said main compartment, a three-sided frame having a single longitudinal side and one of a pair of perpendicularly related sides at each end thereof secured to corresponding parts of said opening defining portions `of said flexible covering material, a matching frame disposed in mating relationship with said three-sided frame, hinge means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of each of said perpendicularly related sides, and additional flexible covering material secured to said three sides of said matching frame and extending around said hinge means `directly between said threesided frame and a portion of said main compartment fiexible covering material disposed at the opposite side from said longitudinal side from said three-sided frame, said additional flexible covering material extending into and at least partially lining said auxiliary compartment, said auxiliary compartment extending into the interior of said main compartment, and means for independently opening each of said main and auxiliary compartments.

Meyers July 28, 1953 Stakofsky Ian. 10, 1956 

